Game operating device

ABSTRACT

A game operating device (controller) includes a longitudinal housing, and a holding portion held by hand to be wrapped by its palm it is formed in the housing. A direction switch is provided on an upper surface at a position where it can be operated by thumb of the hand holding the holding portion, and a start switch and a select switch are provided backward thereof. An X button 46 and a Y button are further arranged in line on the upper surface of the housing. An imaging information arithmetic unit is provided at a front end of the housing in a longitudinal direction in such a manner that an imaging device thereof is exposed from a front-end surface. A concave portion is formed on a lower surface at a position corresponding to the direction switch. The concave portion includes a valley and two inclined surfaces. An A button capable of being operated by index finger of the hand holding the holding portion is provided on the backward inclined surface. By processing an image signal obtained by imaging an infrared ray from LED modules by the imaging device, it is possible to obtain an operation signal varying according to a position and/or attitude of the controller.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/494,793 filed Apr. 24, 2017; which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/052,596 filed Feb. 24, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No.9,700,806; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/631,259 filed Feb. 25, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,498,728; which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/071,028 filed Mar.24, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,011,248; which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/446,188, filed Jun. 5, 2006, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,931,535; which claims priority to Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2005-239984 filed Aug. 22, 2005; the contents of all of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a game operating device. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a game operating devicethat analyzes movements of an operating device through detection of apredetermined mark or pattern in an image taken by an imaging device.

Description of the Related Arts

Some operating devices as related arts of this kind of game operatingdevice are disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3422383 and Japanese PatentLaying-open No. 2002-233665.

The related art disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3422383 makes itpossible to play a shooting game by arranging light emitters at fourlocations in such a manner as to surround a video screen, providing aCCD camera to a barrel of a shooting gun to take an image containing thefour light emitters, and calculating a designation position in the videoscreen based on information on image positions of the four lightemitters contained in the imaging data at that time.

As similar to that of Japanese Patent No. 3422383, the related art ofJapanese Patent Laying-open No. 2002-233665 also makes it possible toimage a target containing at least four characteristic points in oneplane, calculate an attitude parameter of an imaging surface withrespect to the plane based on the obtained image data, and make a changeto the target based on the parameter.

Japanese Patent No. 3422383 implies no specific shape of the inputoperating means but discloses the use of a “gun”.

Additionally, Japanese Patent Laying-open No. 2002-233665 discloses aspecific shape of the gun-type controller. In using this gun-typecontroller for input operations, the direction of designation is to bethe direction of the gun barrel. However, the portions corresponding tothe barrel and the grip are separately located, and also the directionsof the barrel and the grip are different. Thus, it is difficult torecognize intuitively the direction of designation only with a sensationin the hand holding the grip.

In this case, moreover, the thumb and the index finger are just placedon the grip, and mainly the middle finger, the ring finger, the smallfinger and the palm need to hold the gun. However, the barrelsignificantly extends off the holding portion, which causes a problemwhere the center of gravity of the entire gun cannot be firmly held andthus it is hard to fix the attitude of the gun. Furthermore, withoccurrence of shakes due to trigger operation, it is difficult tooperate continuously the gun-type controller at a high speed in a stablemanner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide anovel game operating device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a gameoperating device that is easy to operate while holding it by one handand makes it easy to recognize the direction of designation.

To solve the above mentioned issues, the present invention employs thestructure described below. Besides, the reference numerals,supplementary explanations, etc. in parentheses just show thecorrespondences with the embodiments described later, for helping theunderstanding of the present invention, and impose no limitations on thepresent invention.

In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention relates to a gameoperating device comprising a longitudinal housing, a first operatingportion provided on a first plane of the housing along a longitudinaldirection at one end in the longitudinal direction, a second operatingportion provided on a second plane opposed to the first plane of thehousing, a holding portion formed in a direction of the other end alongthe longitudinal direction of the housing from the second operatingportion, and an imaging means provided at the one end of the housing insuch a manner that it can perform imaging in a direction along thelongitudinal direction.

More specifically, and with reference to the drawings, the firstoperating portion (26, 42: reference numerals indicative of the portionscorresponding to those in the embodiment. The same applies to thefollowing reference numerals.) is provided at one end of the first plane(20) of the longitudinal housing (12) in the longitudinal direction(C1), and the second operating portion (42, 28) is provided on thesecond plane (22) opposed to the first plane. The housing (12) is ofshape and dimensions capable of being held by one hand of the gameplayer, the holding portion (18) for holding the housing, i.e. thecontroller is formed at one end of the housing along the longitudinaldirection from the second operating portion. The imaging means (56) isprovided at the one end (52) of the housing. Also, the imaging means canperform imaging in the direction along the longitudinal direction of thehousing. It is thus possible to recognize or grasp intuitively thedirection of designation by the imaging means while holding the housing.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a game operatingdevice comprising a longitudinal housing having a thickness capable ofbeing held by one hand, a first operating portion provided on a firstplane of the housing along a longitudinal direction, a second operatingportion provided on a second plane opposed to the first plane of thehousing at a position reached by an index finger of the one hand when athumb of the one hand is placed on the first operating portion, aholding portion formed at a position where it can be held by a palm andother fingers of the one hand when a thumb is placed on the firstoperating portion and an index finger is placed on the second operatingportion, and an imaging means provided at an end opposed to the holdingportion of the housing in such a manner that it can perform imaging in adirection along a direction in which the thumb is faced when the thumbis placed on the first operating portion and the holding portion is heldby the palm and the other fingers.

More specifically, relating to this second aspect to the drawings, thefirst operating portion (26, 42) is provided at one end of the firstplane (20) of the longitudinal housing (12) in the longitudinaldirection (C1), and the second operating portion (42, 28) is provided onthe second plane (22) at the opposite side of the first plane. Thehousing (12) is of shape and dimensions capable of being held by onehand of the game player, the holding portion (18) for holding thehousing is formed on the housing. The holding portion is formed at theposition where it can be held by the palm (62P) and the other fingers(62 c, 62 d, 62 e) of the one hand (62), when the thumb (62 a) is placedon the first operating portion and the index finger (62 b) is placed onthe second operating portion. Thus, it is possible to operate the firstoperating portion and the second operating portion by the thumb and theindex finger of one hand while holding the holding portion by that hand.Moreover, the imaging means (56) is provided at the end (52) opposed tothe holding portion of the housing. In addition, the imaging means isprovided in such a manner that it can perform imaging in the directionalong the direction in which the thumb is faced when the thumb is placedon the first operating portion and the holding portion is held by thepalm and the other fingers.

It is also a feature of the exemplary embodiment that the firstoperating portion (26, 42) and the second operating portion (42, 28) arearranged on the first plane and the second plane of the housing, withcorrespondence in position between the two. Therefore, the housing issupported by the index finger on the second plane in operating the firstoperating portion on the first plane, and the housing is supported bythe thumb on the first plane in operating the second operating portionon the second plane, which makes the operations more stable. Inaddition, it is possible to change the direction of designation of theimaging means (56) while holding the housing between the thumb and theindex finger, which allows the direction of designation of the imagingmeans to be recognized or grasped more easily.

It is also a feature of the exemplary embodiment that the imaging means(56) is provided in the vicinity of the first operating portion (26; 42)and the second operating portion (42; 28), which makes it easier torecognize the direction of designation of the imaging means.

It is also a feature of the exemplary embodiment that the concaveportion (34) is formed in the second plane of the housing (12), forexample, and the second operating portion (42; 28) is arranged in theconcave portion. Accordingly, it is possible to place the index fingerin the concave portion, which makes it possible to operate the secondoperating portion in a quick and reliable manner.

It is also a feature of the exemplary embodiment that the concaveportion (34) includes the first inclined surface (38) extending in thedirection of the holding portion (18) and the second inclined surface(40) in the opposite direction. As a consequence, the second operatingportion can be operated quickly and reliably just by bending the indexfinger in the concave portion toward the holding portion.

It is also a feature of the exemplary embodiment that the angle ofinclination of the first inclined surface (38) is set so as to besmaller than the angle of inclination of the second inclined surface(40). This brings about the advantages that the housing is easy to holdby both hands and the index finger can be reliably taken off the secondoperating portion.

It is also a feature of the exemplary embodiment that the concaveportion (34) includes the valley (36), for example, and the bottom ofthe valley forms a plane approximately parallel to the first plane.Meanwhile, the holding portion (18) is provided rearward of the housing.Accordingly, the inclined surface (38) is formed linking the bottom ofthe valley and the holding portion, and the second operating portion(26) is placed on the inclined surface. Thus, the second operatingportion can be naturally operated when the index finger is bent.

It is also a feature of the exemplary embodiment that the vibrator (80)is arranged on the side opposed to the imaging means (56) in thelongitudinal direction of the housing (12), which decreases apossibility that the vibrations from the vibrator affect adverselyimaging operation by the imaging information arithmetic unit. That is, adistance becomes long between the vibrator and the imaging informationarithmetic unit, thereby preventing an imaging element of the imaginginformation arithmetic unit from being blurred as much as possible.

It is also a feature of the exemplary embodiment that the battery (78)as a relatively heavy matter is stored within a range of the holdingportion (18) of the housing (12), and thus a center of gravity G (FIG. 2(B)) is reliably contained within the range of the holding portion. Thismakes it possible to change stably the direction of designation of theimaging means while holding the holding portion 18.

According to the present invention, it is easy to operate the firstoperating portion and the second operating portion while holding thecontroller by one hand, which makes it possible to obtain a novel gameoperating device that is high in flexibility and capable of beingoperated only by one hand. Additionally, the imaging range of theimaging means contains the direction along the longitudinal direction ofthe holding portion, which makes it possible to recognize or graspintuitively the direction of designation of the imaging means whileholding the housing.

The above described objects and other objects, features, aspects andadvantages of the present invention will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the present invention when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a controller (first controller)forming one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (A) presentsa front side, upper side and left side, and FIG. 1 (B) shows an upperside, rear side and right side.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a hexahedron indicative of the first controllerof this embodiment, excluding a view of a left side, and FIG. 2 (A)shows a front side, FIG. 2 (B) a plane side, FIG. 2 (C) a right side,FIG. 2 (D) a bottom side, and FIG. 2 (E) a rear side, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the first controller of the embodiment held byone hand.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the first controller of the embodiment held byone hand.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing the state of FIG. 3 in which anindex finger is taken off an A button.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first controller shown in FIG. 1 andFIG. 2 from which an upper housing is removed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the first controller shown in FIG. 1 andFIG. 2 from which a lower housing is removed.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing electrical circuit structure of thisembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a situation in which a game is played bymeans of an imaging information arithmetic unit with the use of thefirst controller of this embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an illustrative view of a situation in which an imaging rangeof the imaging information arithmetic unit covers the longitudinaldirection of the holding portion in alignment with the same.

FIG. 11 is an illustrative view showing a situation in which, because ofa relationship between an imaging range (viewing angle) of the imagingdevice of the first controller and a half-value angle of light intensityof LED module, two LED modules exist concurrently within the viewingangle of the imaging device.

FIG. 12 is an illustrative view showing a situation in which, because ofa relationship between an imaging range (viewing angle) of the imagingdevice of the first controller and a half-value angle of light amount ofLED module, only one LED module exists within the viewing angle of theimaging device.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a controller (second controller)constituting another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a combination of the secondcontroller of this embodiment and the first controller of the precedingembodiment.

FIG. 15 is a right side view showing the combination of the secondcontroller of this embodiment and the first controller of the precedingembodiment.

FIG. 16 is an illustrative view showing the case of performing anoperation with the combination of the first controller and the secondcontroller.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing electric circuit structure with thecombination of the first controller and the second controller.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a combination of another secondcontroller constituting another embodiment of the present invention andthe first controller.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a combination of still anothersecond controller constituting still another embodiment of the presentinvention and the first controller.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a combination of further anothersecond controller constituting further another embodiment of the presentinvention and the first controller.

FIG. 21 is an illustrative view showing a gun-type adapter constitutingyet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an illustrative view of the adapter of FIG. 20 embodiment towhich the first controller is attached.

FIG. 23 is an illustrative view showing another embodiment of the firstcontroller, and FIG. 23 (A) shows a layout of operating switches, inparticular, on an upper surface thereof, and FIG. 23 (B) denotes a rightside thereof.

FIG. 24 is an illustrative view showing the imaging device of the firstcontroller of FIG. 23 that is correctly faced toward a screen of adisplay.

FIG. 25 is an illustrative view showing still another embodiment of thefirst controller.

FIG. 26 presents further another embodiment of the first controller, andFIG. 26 (A) is a perspective view showing a rear side, upper side andleft side, and FIG. 26 (B) is a perspective view showing a bottom side,front side, plane side and right side.

FIG. 27 is a drawing of a hexahedron excluding a view of a left side,and FIG. 2 (A) shows a front side, FIG. 2 (B) a plane side, FIG. 2 (C) aright side, FIG. 2 (D) a bottom side, and FIG. 2 (E) a rear side,respectively.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing the first controller shown in FIG.26 and FIG. 27 from which the upper housing is removed.

FIG. 29 is a side view of the first controller of this embodiment heldby one hand.

FIG. 30 is a front view of the first controller of this embodiment heldby one hand.

FIG. 31 is an illustrative view showing the state of FIG. 29 in whichthe index finger is taken off the B button.

FIG. 32 is a top view of the first controller of this embodiment that isheld and operated by both hands.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A controller 10 of one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.1 and FIG. 2 includes a longitudinal housing 12 molded of plastic ormetal, for example. The housing 12 has a required depth and includes alower housing 14 having a shape of a flat rectangle with a top-surfaceopening and an bottom, an upper housing 16 assembled integrally with thelower housing 14 in such a manner as to close up the top-surface openingof the lower housing 14, and in particular, has a cross-sectionrectangle on the whole as shown in FIG. 2 (A) and FIG. 2 (E).

The housing 12 has a holding portion 18 and is of size capable of beingheld by one hand of an adult or child on the whole. Its length L (FIG. 2(D)) in a longitudinal direction (a direction along a longitudinalcenter line or axis C1 shown in FIG. 2 (B)) is set at 8 to 15 cm, forexample, and its width (orthogonal to the longitudinal direction C1) W(FIG. 2 (D)) is set at 2 to 4 cm, for example, respectively.

Alternatively, the shape of the housing 12 is not limited to alongitudinal shape with a plane rectangle and may be a longitudinalshape with a plane oval or the like. Likewise, its cross-section shapeis not limited to a rectangle and may be a circle or other polygons.

A flat main surface of the upper housing 16 constitutes an upper surface20 of the housing 12. As can be seen well from FIG. 1 (A) and FIG. 2 (B)in particular, the upper surface 20 of the housing 12 is a rectangleextending along the longitudinal direction of the housing 12. Also, theupper surface 20 is equivalent to a first plane, and a surface or mainsurface 22 of the lower housing 18 is equivalent to a second planeopposed to the first plane 20. The second plane 22 is approximatelyparallel with the first plane 20. Besides, an upward direction isassumed to be forward (side of one end) and a downward direction isassumed to be backward (side of the other end) in the longitudinaldirection C1 of the housing 12.

A power switch 24 is provided on the upper surface 20 of the housing 12,on the slightly right side of the center in a width direction of theupper surface 20 (indicated by the transverse center line or axis C1 inFIG. 2 (B)) in the vicinity of the housing front end (one end). Thepower switch 24 is intended to turn on or off an electric power sourceto a game machine 112 (FIG. 9) by a remote operation.

Besides, in this embodiment, a power switch for turning on or off thecontroller 10 itself is not provided. The controller 10 is turned on byoperating any one of the operating switches of the controller 10, and isautomatically turned off if no operation is performed for apredetermined period of time or more.

A direction switch 26 is provided on the width-direction center line C1of the upper surface 20, forward of the longitudinal-direction center ofthe housing 12 (indicated by a center line C2 in FIG. 2 (B)). Thedirection switch 26 is a combined switch of four-direction push switchesand center switch, and includes operating portions 26F, 26B, 26R and 26Lfor four directions indicated by arrows, forward (or up), backward (ordown), right and left, and also includes a center switch 28. Theoperating portions 26F, 26B, 26R and 26L are arranged on a single keytop, in a shape of a ring with a turn of 90 degrees among them. Byoperating any one of them, one of contacts (not shown) which arearranged in a shape of a polygon corresponding individually to theseoperating portions 26F, 26B, 26R and 26L is selectively turned on,thereby selecting any one of the directions of upward, downward, rightand left. For example, by operating any one of the operating portions26F, 26B, 26R and 26L, one of those contacts is turned on to make itpossible to designate a movement direction of a character or object(player character or player object) capable of being operated by a gameplayer or to designate a movement direction of a cursor.

The center switch 28 is a single push-button switch and may be used as aso-called B button. As is well known, the B button 28 can be used forchanging the game mode selected by means of a select switch 32 describedlater, canceling the action decided by means of an A button describedlater, and so on.

Besides, as is well known, such a combined switch as described inrelation to the embodiment is highly utilized for cellular telephonesand the like (seehttp://www.jpo.go.jp/shiryou/s_sonota/hyoujun_gijutsu/small_switch/b-6-2.htm,for example), and thus a more detailed description of it is omitted.

As stated above, the direction switch 26 of the embodiment includes thecontacts (not shown) arranged in the shape of a polygon (rectangle orrhombus) as to indicate individual directions (the four directions inthe embodiment) so that these contacts are operated by means of theoperating portions 26F, 26B, 26R and 26L formed on a single key top.Alternatively, the operating portions 26F, 26B, 26R and 26L may beprovided as individual key tops so that one contact is operated by meansof each corresponding key top.

In addition, the direction switch 26 may be a cross key or a joystick.In the case of the direction switch 26 as a joystick, an arbitrarydirection and position can be designated by turning its tip end 360degrees in an arbitrary direction or deflecting the same.

As can be seen well from FIG. 2 (B), a start switch 30 and a selectswitch 32 having key tops arranged in a shape of the Japanese KATAKANAcharacter “

” with the width-direction center line C1 of the housing 12 between themare provided on the upper surface 20, backward of the direction switch26. The start switch 30 is used for starting (re-starting) and pausing agame and the like. The select switch 32 is used for selecting a gamemode, etc.

Additionally, the start switch 30 and the select switch 32 may beprovided in an arbitrary layout such as one transverse line and onevertical line, not limited to the shape of the Japanese KATAKANAcharacter “

” presented in relation to the embodiment.

A concave portion 34 is formed on the second plane 22 of the lowerhousing 14, at a position approximately corresponding to the position ofthe direction switch 26. The concave portion 34 is a concave formed soas to reach from one end of the other of the second plane 22 in a widthdirection, as can be understood from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 (C).Additionally, strictly speaking, the concave portion 34 of thisembodiment is formed slightly forward of the direction switch 26, as canbe seen from a contrast between FIG. 2 (B) and FIG. 2 (C). The concaveportion 34 is formed at a position where, when the player holds thecontroller 10, i.e., the holding portion 18 of the housing 12 by onehand as described later, the index finger of the same hand naturallyfalls. Therefore, a width of a valley 36 of the concave portion 34 (inthe longitudinal direction of the housing 12) is formed in a size thatallows the index finger to come into there. The concave portion 34 hastwo inclined surfaces 38 and 40 rising from the valley 36. The formerinclined surface 38 is formed with a rise from the valley 36 toward therear of the housing 12, and conversely, the latter inclined surface 40is rising from the valley 36 toward the front of the housing 12.

An A button 42 is provided on the inclined surface 38 on the rear sideof the concave portion 34 of the lower housing 14. The A button 42 isprovided at a position corresponding to the direction switch 26. Here,the corresponding position means a position where the direction switch26 and the A button 42 are arranged close to each other as viewedthrough from the upper surface of housing 12, and more preferably, thedirection switch 26 and the A button 42 are arranged in such a manner asto be at least partially overlapped. As can be seen well from theillustration, the bottom of the valley 36 is on a plane approximatelyparallel with the upper surface 20, i.e., the first plane of the housing12, and the rear inclined surface 38 on which the A button 42 isarranged is formed between the bottom parallel surface of the valley 36and the holding portion 18 formed on the rear (other) side of thehousing 12 described earlier. Also, the A button 42 is a push switchhaving a switch contact (not shown) and a key top for turning on or offthe switch contact, and the key top is provided so as to move in adirection perpendicular to the inclined surface 38. Therefore, asdescribed later, the player can turn on the A button 42 just by puttinghis/her index finger or middle finger in the concave portion 34 andpulling it toward him/her. That is, the index finger or the middlefinger can be positioned in the concave portion 34, which makes itpossible to operate the A button 42 quickly and reliably when needed.

Besides, the A button 42 allows a player character or a player object toperform an arbitrary action such as punching, throwing, capturing(obtaining), riding and jumping. For example, in an action game, the Abutton 42 makes it possible to designate jumping, punching andmanipulating a weapon, etc. Also, in a role-playing game (RPG) orsimulation RPG, the A button 42 makes it possible to designate theobtainment of an item, the selection and decision of a weapon and acommand, and so on.

In addition, the above stated holding portion 18 is formed on thehousing, backward of the concave portion 34, i.e., the A button 42. Asdescribed later, in using the controller 10, the controller 10, i.e.,the housing 12 is held in such a manner that the player's palm of onehand wraps the holding portion 18. At that time, the player can holdstably the holding portion 18 only by one hand because the controller10, i.e., the housing 12 is of a size or thickness capable of being heldby one hand.

Moreover, the key top of the A button 42 is turned on by pushing it inthe direction perpendicular to the inclined surface 38, that is, thedirection toward the holding portion 18. The inclined part 38 is notperpendicular to the upper surface of the housing 12, that is, the firstplane 20 and, in the end, the key top of the A button 42 is pushed in adirection not perpendicular to the upper surface 20. On the contrary,the B button 28 and the direction switch 26 are turned on by pushingthem in the direction perpendicular to the upper surface 20 of the upperhousing 16. These push directions mean directions in which the indexfinger and the thumb can apply pressure naturally in holding the holdingportion 18. This makes it possible to support a periphery of theoperating portion continuously by the thumb and the index finger duringthe operation while holding the holding portion 18, and perform theoperation in the stable holding state at any time.

Furthermore, an X button 44 and a Y button 46 are arranged on thewidth-direction center line C1 and backward of thelongitudinal-direction center C2 of the housing 12, in a straight linewith a spacing between the two. These X button 44 and Y button 46 areused to make adjustments to view point position and view point directionin displaying a three-dimension game image, that is, make adjustments toa position and a field angle of a virtual camera.

A battery cover 48 is detachably attached to the lower housing 14forming the holding portion 18, and a battery 78 shown in FIG. 7 isstored inside the battery cover 48. Thus, the controller 10 operateswith the battery 78 as a power source. In addition, the battery cover 48can be detached by removing an engagement pawl 50 from the lower housing14.

As stated above, the battery 78 as a relatively heavy matter is storedwithin a range of the holding portion 18 of the housing 12, and thus acenter of gravity G (FIG. 2 (B)) is reliably contained within the rangeof the holding portion 18. This makes it possible to perform stably thedisplacement or movement of the controller 10 while holding the holdingportion 18.

An infrared imaging device 56 forming one part of an imaging informationarithmetic unit 54 described later in detail is arranged on a front-endsurface 52 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 (A)) of the housing 12, and a 32-pin edgeconnector 60 is provided on a rear-end surface 58 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2(E)) of the housing 12, for example. The connector 58 is used to attachand connect the controller of this embodiment (the first controller) 10to another second controller (described later), and so on.

The controller 10 structured in such a manner can be held by one hand ofthe game player (not shown). FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a state in which theplayer holds the controller 10 by his/her hand. Referring to thesedrawings, a player's palm 62P and balls of middle finger 62 c, ringfinger 62 d and small finger 62 e of one hand 62 (right hand in thedrawings) hold the holding portion 18 of the housing 12 in such a manneras to wrap the holding portion 18 lightly. In the state, a thumb 62 a ofthe hand 62 is positioned on the direction switch 26 and an index finger62 b is positioned in the valley 36 of concave portion 34 of the lowerhousing 14. More specifically, the direction switch 26 is arranged at aposition reached by the thumb 62 a of the hand 62 holding the housing12, that is, at a position capable of being operated by the thumb 62 a.The A button 42 is arranged at a position reached by the index finger 62b of the hand 62 holding the housing 12, that is, at a position capableof being operated by the index finger 62 b. Accordingly, the player canoperate the direction switch 26 by the thumb 62 a and operate the Abutton 42 by the index finger 62 b while holding the housing 12 by thehand 62. More specifically, the index finger 62 b of the hand 62 ispositioned in such a manner as to make contact with a surface of thevalley 36 of the above stated concave portion 34 formed in the lowerhousing 14. By bending the index finger 62 b toward him/her (rightwardin FIG. 3) in that state, the user can push the key top of the A button42 by the ball of the index finger 62 b in a direction perpendicular tothe near-side inclined surface 38 of the concave portion 34.Consequently, the player can operate the A button 42 by the index finger62 b while holding the housing 12 by the hand 62.

Besides, the same applies if the holding hand 62 is a left hand.

In addition, the A button 42 is described above as being operated by theindex finger 62 b. Alternatively, by further providing an A2 button (notshown) of the same shape as the A button backward of the A button 42,the housing 12 may be held by the palm 62P and the balls of the ringfinger 62 d and small finger 62 e so that the A button 42 can beoperated by the index finger 62 b and the A2 button 32 by the middlefinger 62 c, respectively.

As stated above, the controller 10 of this embodiment, under the stateof being held by one hand, allows the first operating portion (thedirection switch 26 in the embodiment) and the second operating portion(the A button 42 in the embodiment) to be easily operated. That is, thecontroller 10 of this embodiment makes it possible to operate each ofthe operating portions with stability while holding the controller 10 byone hand. Therefore, the player can use the other hand for playing agame or for another purpose. Moreover, since it can be held only by onehand, the controller 10 can be handled more freely as compared with thecase of holding by the both hands. As a consequence, it is possible toperform smoothly the carrying, movement or displacement of thecontroller 10.

Additionally, in the controller 10 of this embodiment, the position ofthe first operating portion, for example, the direction switch 26provided on the upper surface 20 of the housing 12 and the position ofthe second operating portion, e.g., the A button 42 provided on thelower surface of the housing 12 correspond to each other on the upperand lower surfaces 20 and 22 of the housing 12 so that the housing 12can be caught by the thumb and the index finger (or middle finger)operating these portions, resulting in further stable operations. Forexample, when the direction switch 26 is operated by the thumb 62 a, thehousing 12 is supported from underneath by the index finger 62 b or themiddle finger 62 c positioned in the concave portion 34 for operatingthe A button 42, which makes it possible to push the direction switch 26by the thumb 62 a in a stable manner. Likewise, when the A button 42 isoperated by the index finger 62 b or the middle finger 62 c, the housing12 is supported from above by the thumb 62 a for operating the directionswitch 26, which make it possible to push the A button 42 by the indexfinger 62 b or the middle finger 62 c with stability.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the center of gravity G of thecontroller 10 falls a cross point of the width-direction center line C1and the longitudinal-direction center line C2 shown in FIG. 2 (B) or avicinity thereto. The position of the center of gravity G is containedin a range of the holding portion 18, as can be seen well from FIG. 2.Therefore, when the controller 10 is held at the holding portion 18, theholding hand 62 (FIG. 6) supports the position of the center of gravityG, which allows the holding state to be maintained with greatly highstability. Thus, it is possible to perform further smoothly themovement, carrying or displacement of the controller 10 for the imaginginformation arithmetic unit.

FIG. 3 shows a state that the index finger 62 b presses the A button 42.When it is not necessary to press the A button 42, the index finger 62 bmay be moved off the A button 42 (the same applies to the middle finger62 c). That is, as shown in FIG. 5, by pushing the index finger 62 b (orthe middle finger 62 c) against the front-end inclined surface 40 of theconcave portion 34, it is possible to make the housing stable in thestate that the A button 42 is released from the index finger 62 b (themiddle finger 62 c). Consequently, it is not necessary to change thestate of holding the housing 12 (change a holding manner), depending onwhether to press the A button 42 or not.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate the state that the upper housing 16 isremoved from the controller 10 and the state that the lower housing 14is removed from the controller 10, respectively. As shown in FIG. 6indicating the removal of the upper housing 16, a substrate 64 isattached to an upper end of the lower housing 14 in such a manner as toseal the upper opening of the lower housing 14. The above describedpower switch 24, direction switch 26, start switch 30, select switch 32,X button 44 and Y button 46 are mounted on an upper main surface of thesubstrate 64, and they are connected to a processor 66 (FIG. 8)constituting a controller circuit by means of appropriate wiring (notshown).

Moreover, an acceleration sensor 68 and a wireless module 70 areassembled on the upper main surface of the substrate 64, between thedirection switch 26 and the X button 44, for example, between the startswitch 30 and the select switch 32.

The acceleration sensor 68 is preferably a three-axis linearaccelerometer that detects linear acceleration along each of an X axis,Y axis and Z axis. Alternatively, a two-axis linear accelerometer thatonly detects linear acceleration along each of an X axis and Y axis (orother pair of axes) may be used in another embodiment depending on thetype of control signals desired. As a non-limiting example, thethree-axis or two-axis linear accelerometer 68 may be of the typeavailable from Analog Devices, Inc. or STMicroelectronics N.V.Preferably, the acceleration sensor 68 is an electrostatic capacitanceor capacitance-coupling type that is based on silicon micro-machinedMEMS (microelectromechanical systems) technology. However, any othersuitable accelerometer technology (e.g., piezoelectric type orpiezoresistance type) now existing or later developed may be used toprovide the three-axis or two-axis acceleration sensor 68.

As one skilled in the art understands, a linear accelerometer, such asacceleration sensor 68, is only capable of detecting acceleration alonga straight line corresponding to each axis of the acceleration sensor.In other words, the direct output of the acceleration sensor 68 islimited to signals indicative of linear acceleration (static or dynamic)along each of the two or three axes thereof. As a result, theacceleration sensor 68 cannot directly detect movement along anon-linear (e.g. arcuate) path, rotation, rotational movement, angulardisplacement, tilt, position, attitude or any other physicalcharacteristic.

However, through additional processing of the linear accelerationsignals output from the acceleration sensor 68, additional informationrelating to the housing 12 can be inferred or calculated, as one skilledin the art will readily understand from the description herein. Forexample, by detecting static linear acceleration (i.e., gravity), thelinear acceleration output of the acceleration sensor 68 can be used toinfer tilt of the object relative to the gravity vector by correlatingtilt angles with detected linear acceleration. In this way, theacceleration sensor 68 can be used in combination with the processor 66(or another processor) to determine tilt, attitude or position of thehousing 12. Similarly, various movements and/or positions of the housing12 can be calculated or inferred through processing of the linearacceleration signals generated by the acceleration sensor 68 when thehousing 12 containing the acceleration sensor 68 is subjected to dynamicaccelerations by, for example, the hand of a user. In anotherembodiment, the acceleration sensor 68 may include an embedded signalprocessor or other type of dedicated processor for performing anydesired processing of the acceleration signals output from theaccelerometers therein prior to outputting signals to processor 66. Forexample, the embedded or dedicated processor could be used to convertthe detected acceleration signal to a corresponding tilt angle when theacceleration sensor is intended to detect static acceleration (i.e.,gravity).

In this embodiment, the acceleration sensor 68 and processor 66 functionas a position and/or attitude determining means for determining theposition and/or attitude of the controller 10 held by the player withhis/her hand. By outputting information on the position and/or attitudethrough conversion of the acceleration signal output from theacceleration sensor 68, in addition to operation signals from thedirection switch 26, the A button 42, etc. and obtaining operationsignals for position or attitude at the game machine side, it ispossible to perform game operations with a high degree of flexibility.

As stated above, by arranging the acceleration sensor 68 within thehousing 12 so that the acceleration detected by acceleration sensor 68can be used to determine the attitude and position of the housing 12,i.e. the controller 10, the player can easily change the position andattitude of the controller 10 by moving (turning) the wrist of his/herhand while holding the holding portion 18 of the housing 12 by that handdescribed above with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5. Therefore, accordingto the controller 10 of this embodiment, it is possible to utilize notonly operation signals from the operating switches 24 to 32, 44 and 46of the controller 10 but also the position and attitude of thecontroller 10 as controller data, allowing further higher degrees ofoperations.

Moreover, the acceleration sensor 68 is provided within the housing 12of the holding portion 18, and in the course of nature, the thumb isplaced on the direction switch 26 and the index finger is placed on theA button 42, and the remaining fingers support the holding portion.Thus, no variations occur among individuals in the way to hold thecontroller 10, which makes it possible to perform high-precisiondetection without variations under predetermined criteria. That is, theabove mentioned turning operation of the wrist may result in adisplacement of a rotational axis due to its rotation. Also, sinceright-handed rotation and left-handed rotation are asymmetrical, thereis a possibility of causing an error. However, by providing theacceleration sensor 68 within the housing 12 of the holding portion 18as in this embodiment, the displacement of the rotation axis due to itsrotation is reduced with a decreased possibility of detection errors.

Additionally, in the embodiment, the acceleration sensor 68 is set upwithin a range of the holding portion 18 of the housing 12 (FIG. 1).This brings about an advantage that the position and/or attitudedetermining means can determine the position and/or the attitude withhigh accuracy. Besides, the position and/or attitude determining meansmay be arranged at another position within the housing 12 according tothe purpose. For example, as the position and/or attitude determiningmeans is moved backward of the housing 12, the amount of change inposition and/or attitude due to the displacement of the housing 12becomes smaller. On the contrary, as the means is moved forward of thehousing 12, the amount of change in position and/or attitude due to thedisplacement of the housing 12 becomes larger. Consequently, theposition and/or attitude determining means may be arranged at the mostappropriate position according to required performance.

In another exemplary embodiment, the acceleration sensor 68 may bereplaced with a gyro-sensor of any suitable technology incorporating,for example, a rotating or vibrating element. Exemplary MEMSgyro-sensors that may be used in this embodiment are available fromAnalog Devices, Inc. Unlike the linear acceleration sensor 68, agyro-sensor is capable of directly detecting rotation (or angular rate)around an axis defined by the gyroscopic element (or elements) therein.Thus, due to the fundamental differences between a gyro-sensor and anlinear acceleration sensor, corresponding changes need to be made to theprocessing operations that are performed on the output signals fromthese devices depending on which device is selected for a particularapplication. Due to the fact that the nature of gyroscopes is known toone skilled in the art, as well as the fundamental differences betweenlinear accelerometers and gyroscopes, further details are not providedherein so as not to obscure the remainder of the disclosure. Whilegyro-sensors provide certain advantages due to their ability to directlydetect rotational movement, linear acceleration sensors are generallymore cost effective when used in connection with the controllerapplications described herein.

An antenna pattern 72 is formed on the upper main surface of thesubstrate 64, and the controller 10 is provided as a wireless controllerby the means of the antenna pattern 72 and the above mentioned wirelessmodule 70. More specifically, the operation signals from the abovestated individual switches and buttons 24 to 32, 44 and 46, and thedetection data (detection signal) from the imaging informationarithmetic unit 54 and acceleration data (acceleration signal) from theacceleration sensor 68 are modulated in the wireless module 70 to weakradio wave signals, and the modulated weak radio wave signals areemitted from the antenna pattern 72. Accordingly, the game machine (notshown), by receiving the weak radio waves and performing demodulationand decoding on them, can obtain the operation signals from the abovestated individual switches and buttons 24 to 32, 44 and 46, and thedetection data from the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 and thedetected acceleration data from the acceleration sensor 68. Then, thegame machine makes the game progress, based on the signals, data andgame programs obtained in such a manner.

In addition, a crystal oscillator 74 provided on the upper main surfaceof the substrate 64 is intended to generate a basic clock of a computeror processor 66 (FIG. 8) contained in the controller 10.

As shown in FIG. 7 in which the lower housing 14 is removed, the imaginginformation arithmetic unit 54 is attached to an edge of the front endon the lower main surface of the substrate 64, and the connector 60 isattached to an edge of the rear end thereof. The imaging informationarithmetic unit 54 has the above mentioned infrared imaging device 56and an image processing circuit 76 for processing image data imaged bythe imaging device (imaging means) 56.

Additionally, the above described A button 42 is attached to the lowermain surface of the substrate 64 backward of the imaging informationarithmetic unit 54, and the aforesaid battery 78 is stored furtherbackward thereof. A vibrator 80 is attached to the lower main surface ofthe substrate 64, between the battery 78 and the connector 60. Thevibrator 80 may be a vibrating motor or solenoid, for example. Thevibrator 80 creates vibrations in the controller 10, and the vibrationsare transmitted to the player's hand 62 (FIG. 3) holding it, whichrealizes a vibration-ready game. Consequently, it is possible to providethe player with a vibratory stimulus.

Besides, as stated above, arranging the vibrator 80 on the opposite sideof the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 in the longitudinaldirection of the housing 12 would decrease the possibility that thevibrations from the vibrator 80 affect adversely imaging by the imaginginformation arithmetic unit 54. That is, a longest distance can besecured between the vibrator 80 and the imaging information arithmeticunit 54, which makes it possible to prevent the imaging element of theimaging information arithmetic unit 54 from being blurred as much aspossible.

Besides, in changing the direction of imaging with the imaging means orimaging device 56, the player may hold the holding portion 18 of thehousing 12 by one hand and move the wrist of the hand in that state, asalready described with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5. At that time, theimaging means 56 is provided at the front end of the housing 12, thethumb is placed on the direction switch 26 and the index finger isplaced on the A button 42 in the course of nature, and the remainingfingers support the holding portion. This makes it possible to performan imaging operation under predetermined uniform criteria, independentof variations among individuals in the way to hold the controller 10.

Here, referring to FIG. 8, a description is given as to electric circuitstructure of the controller 10 of the embodiment.

The imaging information arithmetic unit 54 has the infrared imagingdevice 56 and the aforesaid image processing circuit 76 for processingimage data imaged by the imaging device 56. As illustrated, the imagingdevice 56 includes a solid imaging element 561 such as a CMOS sensor anda CCD. An infrared filter (a filter permeable to infrared rays only) 562and a lens 563 are arranged frontward of the imaging element 561.Accordingly, the imaging device 56 generates image data throughdetection of infrared rays alone. In addition, the image processingcircuit 76 processes the infrared image data obtained from the imagingdevice 56, senses a high-intensity portion, detects the portion'scenter-of-gravity position and area, and outputs the data on them. Thedata on the position and area of the high-intensity portion is inputfrom the image processing circuit 76 to the processor 66. Moreover, theoperation signals from the aforementioned switches and buttons 24 to 32,4 and 46 are input into the processor 66. In addition, the three-axis ortwo-axis acceleration data (acceleration signal) from the accelerationsensor 68 is also input into the processor 66.

Based on the operation signals from the operating switches 24 to 32, 44and 46, the processor 66 detects which one of the operating switches andoperating buttons is being operated from time to time. The operationdata is output as a sequence of controller data together with theacceleration data and the high-intensity portion data, and is input intothe wireless module 70. The wireless module 70 modulates a carrier waveof predetermined frequency with the controller data, and emits the weakradio wave signal from the antenna 72.

Besides, the signals and data input through the connector 60 provided atthe rear end of the controller 10 are also input into the processor 66,and processed by the processor 66 as with the aforementioned signals anddata, provided as controller data to the wireless module 70, and thenoutput as a weak radio wave signal from the controller 10 in the samemanner.

Additionally, the processor 66 may be independent from the wirelessmodule 70, and, in using a wireless module based on Bluetooth(registered trademark) standard, etc., it may be contained as amicrocomputer in the module.

In order to play a game using the controller 10 in a game system 100, aplayer 102 holds the controller 10 (the housing thereof) by one hand 62,as shown in FIG. 9. Then, the player 102 faces the imaging device 56(FIG. 8) of the aforementioned imaging information arithmetic unit 54 atthe front end of the controller 10 toward a screen 106 of a display 104.At that time, two LED modules 108A and 108B are set up in a vicinity ofthe screen 106 of the display 104. Each of the LED modules 108A and 108Boutputs infrared rays. Meanwhile, the infrared filter 562 (FIG. 8) isincorporated into the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 of thecontroller 10 held by the player, as described above.

The image processing circuit 76 (FIG. 8) of the imaging informationarithmetic unit 54 obtains information on the positions and areas of theLED modules 108A and 108B as high-intensity point information, byprocessing the taken image containing the infrared rays. Data on thepositions and magnitudes of the intensity points is transmitted from thecontroller 10 to a game machine 112 by radio (weak radio waves), andreceived by the game machine 112. When the player moves the controller10, i.e. the imaging information arithmetic unit 54, the data on theintensity point positions and magnitudes is changed. By taking advantageof this, the game machine 112 can obtain an operation signalcorresponding to the movement of the controller and make the gameprogress according to that.

In this manner, the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 can image amarker (an infrared light from the LED in the embodiment) and obtain anoperation signal according to a change in the position of the marker inthe taken image. This allows coordinate direct input and rotationalinput to the screen, unlike operations with the operating switches,operating keys or operating buttons which are manipulated with fingers.However, the principle of the imaging information arithmetic unit iswell known as described in Japanese Patent No. 3422383, and thus a moredetailed explanation on it is omitted here. Besides, motion trackingmeans an analysis of the movement of an object or camera (the controller10 here) with a specific mark or pattern as a target in the screen(image).

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the controller 10 illustrated in detailin FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, for example. As depicted in FIG. 10, the holdingportion 18 is set up near a one end of the longitudinal direction of thehousing 12 of the controller 10, that is, a one end of the directionalong the width-direction center line C1, and the imaging device 56 isinstalled at the other end of the housing 12, on the center line C1 andon the opposite side of the holding portion 18. Accordingly, as shown inFIG. 3, a straight line (the width-direction center line C1) passingthrough the palm 62P of the hand 62 holding the holding portion 18 is inalignment with the direction of designation by the imaging device 56,which brings about an advantage that it is easy to recognize thedirection in which the imaging device 56 is faced. More specifically,since the direction of imaging by the imaging device 56 (correspondingto a direction in which a viewing angle C described later is faced) isin parallel with the longitudinal direction of the housing 12, it ispossible to grasp the direction of designation by the imaging device 56through intuition while holding the housing 12. Here, the longitudinaldirection of the housing 12, in the case of a rectangular housing aswith the embodiment, is represented by the width-direction center lineC1, for example. In addition, when the thumb is placed in the center ofthe direction switch 26, for example, and the holding portion 18 is heldby the palm and the other fingers as shown in FIG. 29 described later,the direction of imaging by the imaging device 56 denotes a direction inwhich the thumb is faced.

Besides, the LED modules 108A and 108B shown in FIG. 9 and the imaginginformation arithmetic unit 54 of the controller 10 have viewing anglesA, B and C, respectively. In the embodiment, the viewing angles A and Bare equal to each other and they are 34° (half-value angle), forexample, and the viewing angle C is 41°, for example. Additionally, intracking operation, when the two LED modules 108A and 108B exist withinthe viewing angle C of the imaging device 56 as shown in FIG. 10, theimaging information arithmetic unit 54 detects the movements of theimaging information arithmetic unit 54, i.e. the controller 10, by usingthe information on the positions and magnitudes of high-intensity pointsfrom the two LED modules 108A and 108B.

However, when only one LED module 108A or 108B exists within the viewingangle C of the imaging device 56 as shown in FIG. 11, the imaginginformation arithmetic unit 54 detects the movement of the controller 10by using the information on the position and magnitude of high-intensitypoint from only one of the two LED modules 108A and 108B.

The above described controller 10 sufficiently carries out the functionsas a game operating device by itself. Furthermore, as in an embodimentdescribed below, it is possible to make the controller 10 cooperate withanother controller (or an adapter).

In the embodiment represented in FIG. 13 to FIG. 17, a second controller200 shown in FIG. 13 and the first controller 10 of the embodimentdescribed earlier are employed. More specifically, the second controller200 includes a transverse housing 202, unlike the longitudinal housing12 of the first controller 10. Left and right sides of the transversehousing 202 function as holding portions 204 and 206, respectively. Theholding portion 204 is wrapped and held by the palm of the left hand 63,and the holding portion 206 is wrapped and held by the palm of the righthand 62, as illustrated in FIG. 16. That is, the holding portion 204 isa left-hand holding portion and the holding portion 206 is a right-handholding portion. The same thing applies to a different embodiment ofFIG. 18 to FIG. 20. In addition, a surface of the holding portion 204and a surface of the holding portion 206 are located in the same plane,and form together an upper surface 203 of the housing 202 shown in FIG.14 and FIG. 15.

A receiving portion 208 is formed between the left-hand holding portion204 and right-hand holding portion 205 of the housing 202. The receivingportion 208 is a concave portion for accepting the housing 12 of thefirst controller 10. The receiving portion 208 has a shape with openedfront surface and upper surface, and its inner shape is similar to theouter shape of the housing 12 (FIG. 2 (E)) in a direction orthogonal tothe longitudinal direction of the first controller 10, and is slightlylarger in dimensions than the same. More specifically, a width Wa of thereceiving portion 208 is equal to or slightly larger than the width W ofthe housing 12 of the first controller 10 shown in FIG. 2 (D), and adepth D1 of the same is almost equal to the thickness T of the housing12 (FIGS. 2 (A) and (E)). However, a length D2 of depth of the same isset in correspondence with the length of the holding portion 18 of thehousing 12 of the first controller 10 clearly illustrated in FIG. 1, forexample. That is, the depth D2 of the receiving portion 208 is equal toor slightly longer than or slightly shorter than the length of theholding portion 18 of the first controller 10 (in the longitudinaldirection of the first controller).

Additionally, although not illustrated with precision, a connector 210to be connected with the connector 56 provided to the first controller10 is arranged in a back of the receiving portion 208. Since theconnector 56 of the first controller 10 is a male connector, theconnector 210 of the second controller 200 is a female connector.

A well-known analog joystick 212 and direction switch (digital joystick)214 are arranged on the upper surface of the left-hand holding portion204 of the housing 202 of the second controller 200. Also, an A button216 and B button 218 are provided on the upper surface of the right-handholding portion 206, and an X button 220 and Y button 222 are providedso as to surround the slightly larger A button 216. Moreover, a joystick224 is provided for changing a position, i.e. view point of a virtualcamera while a three-dimensional game image is displayed in the displayscreen 106 (FIG. 9). The functions and actions of the A button 216 and Bbutton 218 are the same as those of the A button 42 and B button 28 ofthe first controller 10. The X button 220 is used to change an angle ofgaze around an X axis of the virtual camera, for example, and the Ybutton 222 is used for changing an angle of gaze around the Y axis, forexample.

The housing 12 of the first controller 10 is inserted from its other end(rear end) thereof into the opening of the front surface of thereceiving portion 208 of the second controller 200. Then, the housing 12is pushed into until the connector 56 of the first controller 10 isconnected to the connector 210 of the receiving portion 208. By doingthat, the first controller 10 is combined with the second controller200, as shown in FIG. 14.

In the state of a combination of the first controller 10 and the secondcontroller 200, the holding portion 18 of the first controller 10 isalmost buried in the receiving portion 208, as can be seen well fromFIG. 14 and FIG. 15 in particular. This is because the depth of thereceiving portion 208 is set as to be equal to or slightly longer thanor slightly shorter than the length of the holding portion 18.Accordingly, the center of gravity of the first controller 10 issupported by the second controller 200, and thus the first controller 10can be stably supported by the second controller 200.

Moreover, the width of the receiving portion 208 is set as to be equalto or slightly longer than the width of the housing 12 of the firstcontroller 10, and the depth of the same is formed so as to be equal toor slightly longer than the thickness of the housing 12. Thus, when thefirst controller 10 is inserted into or attached to the receivingportion 208 of the second controller 200, no rattle occurs between thefirst controller 10 and the second controller 200. In addition, as canbe well understood from FIG. 15, the upper surface 20 of the housing 12of the first controller 10 is flush with the upper surface 203 of thehousing 202 of the second controller 200, and thus the first controller10 never protrudes from the surface of the second controller 200 orinterferes with the operation of the second controller 200.

When the first controller 10 and the second controller 200 are combinedto each other, the player holds the holding portions 204 and 206 of thehousing 202 of the second controller 200 by the left hand 63 and theright hand 62, respectively, as shown in FIG. 16. In that state, thereis no need for using all the operating switches and buttons of the firstcontroller 10 but a few of them. However, the wireless transmissionfunction of the first controller 10 and the function of the imaginginformation arithmetic unit can be used as they are.

When the first and second controllers 10 and 200 are combined with eachother as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the electric circuit structure isas shown in FIG. 17. More specifically, in FIG. 17, the operatingswitches 212 to 224 are the operating switches and buttons of the secondcontroller 200, and operation signals from these operating switches 212to 224 are input from the connector 210 through the connector 56 intothe processor 66 of the first controller 10. Accordingly, the processor66 processes the operation signal from the second controller 200 in thesame manner as the operating signals from the first controller 10, andinputs them as controller data into the wireless module 70. Therefore,the operating signals from the individual switches and buttons 212 to 24of the second controller 200 can be wirelessly transmitted as controllerdata via weak radio waves from the wires module 70 through the antenna72. As a consequence, the combination of the first controller 10 andsecond controller 200 functions as a wireless controller.

In addition, the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 of the firstcontroller 10 is never affected by the combination of the firstcontroller 10 and the second controller 200. Thus, by displacing thehousing 202 of the second controller 200 held by both hands as shown inFIG. 16 from side to side or up and down, it is possible to play a gamewith the use of the function of the imaging information arithmetic unitof the first controller 10.

Besides, in the state where the first controller 10 and the secondcontroller 200 are combined with each other, the first operating portionis typically the aforesaid direction switch 26 of the first controller10, and the second operating portion is the A button 42 in the samesense. The third operating portion is the joystick 212 and the directionswitch 214 provided in the left-hand holding portion 204 of the secondcontroller 200. The fourth operating portion is the A button 216, etc.provided in the right-hand holding portion 206 of the second controller200. However, the correspondences of the third operating portion and thefourth operating portion may be exchanged. In either case, the thirdoperating portion and the fourth operating portion can be operated bythe thumb 63 a of the left hand 63 and the thumb 62 a of the right hand62, as shown in FIG. 16.

As described above, in the first controller 10, the first operatingportion (the direction switch 26) is arranged at a position that can beoperated by the thumb 62, and the second operating portion (the A button42) is arranged at a position that can be operated by the index finger62 b or the middle finger 62 c when the first controller 10 is held atthe holding portion 18. Thus, in the first controller 10, it is a littlehard to operate the X button 44 and the Y button 46 provided within arange of the holding portion 18. On the contrary, in the secondcontroller 200, the X button 220 and the Y button 222 are both providedin the right-hand holding portion 206 of the housing 202 and are easy tooperate by the thumb 62 a in the state that the holding portion 206 isheld by the right hand 62 (FIG. 16).

As stated above, it is possible to make the one-handed first controller10 easier to operate by one hand by arranging a minimum required numberof operating switches or keys therein. However, the aforementioned Xbutton 44 and Y button 46, for example, may need to be operated withconsiderable frequency depending on the kind of a game. In the firstcontroller 10, the X button 44 and the Y button 46 are not necessarilyeasy to operate because they are provided in the range of the holdingportion 18. That is, the player may be dissatisfied with the firstcontroller 10 alone due to difficulty of operating the X button 44 andthe Y button 46. In this case, by combining the second controller 200and the first controller 10, it is possible to prevent the player fromhaving such dissatisfaction because the X button 220 and the Y button222 of the second controller 200 are easy to operate.

In addition, the joystick 212 and the direction switch 214 are arrangedas direction designation means in the second controller 200 as well.Meanwhile, the joystick 212 and the direction switch 214 are provided inthe left-hand holding portion 204 of the housing 202 and easy to operateby the thumb 63 a in the state that the holding portion 204 is held bythe left hand 63 (FIG. 16). Accordingly, when the first and secondcontrollers 10 and 200 are combined with each other, the directiondesignation means also becomes easy to operate. Moreover, the directionswitch 26 is originally provided in the first controller 10 at aneasy-to-operate position, the direction designation means to be usedwith a relatively high frequency has easy operability in both the casesof the first controller 10 is used singly and in combination with thesecond controller 200.

Besides, in the embodiment of FIG. 13 to FIG. 17, the A button 216, theB button 218, the X button 220 and the Y button 222 are arranged in theright-hand holding portion 206 of the second controller 200.Alternatively, in the case of this embodiment, it is possible toeliminate the A button 216 and the B button 218 from the secondcontroller 200 so that only the X button 220 and the Y button 222 arearranged in the second controller 200.

That is, even when the first controller 10 and the second controller 200are combined with each other, the A button 42 and the B button 28(FIG. 1) can be operated without hindrance, and thus it is possible toeliminate some operating switch(es) and operating button(s) withduplicate functions from the second controller 200, resulting in costreduction. On the other hand, the X button 44 and the Y button 46 of thefirst controller 10 becomes hard in some degree to operate at the timeof the controller combination, and the functions of these buttons arecovered by the operating switches (buttons) separately provided in thesecond controller 200. This would eliminate the inconvenience ofoperation resulting from the controller combination.

An embodiment shown in FIG. 18 is the same as the embodiment shown inFIG. 13 to FIG. 17 except that the operating switches provided on uppersurface of the right-hand holding portion 206 of the housing 202 of thesecond controller 200 are slightly different from those of theembodiment shown in FIG. 13 to FIG. 16. A duplicate description isomitted below, with assignment of the same reference numerals to similaroperating switches or operating buttons. In the embodiment of FIG. 18,provided on the upper surface of the right-hand holding portion 206 ofthe housing 202 are the A button 216, the B button 218, the X button220, the Y button 222, a C button 226, and a D button 228. The A button216 and the B button 218 have the same functions as those of the Abutton 216 and the B button of the above described embodiment. The Xbutton 220, the Y button 222, the C button 226 and the D button 228realize the equivalent functions of the joystick 224 of the precedingembodiments.

Besides, in the embodiment of FIG. 18, the A button 216 and the B button218 may be eliminated from the right-hand holding portion 206 of thesecond controller 200 so that only the X button 220 and the Y button 222are arranged in the second controller 200, as in the case of theembodiment of FIG. 13 to FIG. 17. This makes it possible to achieve costreduction and prevent a decrease in operability at the time of thecontroller combination.

An embodiment of FIG. 19 is identical with the embodiment of FIG. 13 toFIG. 17 and the embodiment of FIG. 18 except for a point describedbelow.

Specifically, in both the embodiment of FIG. 13 to FIG. 16 and theembodiment of FIG. 18, the housing 202 has a sufficient width (in thelongitudinal direction of the first controller 10) and thus the holdingportion 18 of the first controller 10 is almost buried in the housing202 of the second controller 200. On the contrary, in the embodiment ofFIG. 19, the width of the housing 202 is slightly smaller as comparedwith the embodiment of FIG. 13 to FIG. 16 and the embodiment of FIG. 18,most part of the holding portion 18 of the first controller 10 isexposed from the housing 202. Accordingly, this embodiment is slightlyunstable as compared with the preceding embodiments. However, the uppersurfaces 20 and 203 of the respective housings 12 and 202 of the firstcontroller 10 and second controller 200 are flush with each other as inthe cases of the preceding embodiments.

Since the width of the housing 202 is slightly shorter, the joystick 212provided in the left-hand holding portion 204 of the housing 202 of FIG.18 embodiment is omitted and some changes are made to the switches ofthe right-hand holding portion 206 in this embodiment. In thisembodiment, only the A button 216, the B button 218, the X button 220and the Y button 222 are arranged in the right-hand holding portion 206.

Besides, in the embodiment of FIG. 19, the A button 216 and the B button218 of the right-hand holding portion 206 of the second controller 200may be eliminated so that only the X button 220 and the Y button 222 arearranged in the second controller 200, as in the case of the embodimentof FIG. 13 to FIG. 17. This makes it possible to achieve cost reductionand prevent a decrease in operability with the controller combination.

An embodiment of FIG. 20 is the same as the embodiment of FIG. 19 exceptfor a point described below. Specifically, as with the FIG. 19embodiment, the holding portion 18 of the first controller 10 protrudesor is exposed longer from the housing 202 of the second controller 200as compared with the embodiment of FIG. 13 to FIG. 16 and the embodimentof FIG. 18. Thus, also in this embodiment, only the A button 216 and theB button 218 are provided in the right-hand holding portion 206 of thehousing 202. Alternatively, these buttons 216 and 218 may function as Xbutton and Y button, not as A button and B button.

Shown in FIG. 21 is a gun-type adapter 300. The adapter 300 has a butt302 for holding by hand, as with general gun-type controllers. The butt302 is provided with a trigger 306 surrounded by a trigger guard 304. Agun barrel 308 extends from the butt 302 through a magazine. Besides,the gun barrel 308 can be detached by a connector 310 with respect tothe butt 302.

In addition, by pulling out the gun barrel 308 from the connector 310and inserting the connector 60 of the controller 10 into a connector310, the first controller 10 can be attached instead of the gun barrel308. In this case, it is possible to make the shooting game moreinteresting by allowing the trigger 306 to be used in place of the Abutton 42 of the controller 10.

In the first controller 10 of an embodiment shown in FIG. 23, theoperating switches and buttons 24 to 32, 44 and 46 are changed in shapeand layout as compared with the embodiment of FIG. 1. The directionswitch 26, in particular, employs not the combined switch of FIG. 1embodiment but a direction switch formed of a cross key frequently usedin game machines. The cross key, i.e. the direction switch 26 may beidentical with the direction switch 214 of the second controller 200.Also, in the first controller 10 of this embodiment, the start switch 30and the select switch 32 are arranged in a sideway line, not arranged inthe shape of the character “

” as with the preceding embodiments.

Moreover, a plurality of (four in this embodiment) light-emitting diodes(LEDs) 821, 822, 823 and 824 are provided at one end (front end) of theupper surface 20 of the controller 10 of this embodiment. Light from theLEDs 821 to 824 can be visually recognized from outside, but they areburied in the upper surface 20 of the housing 12 and thus do not appearto protrude in FIG. 23 (B). Alternatively, it is absolutely acceptablethat they are arranged so as to appear to protrude. When the firstcontroller 10 transmits a radio wave signal as a controller signal(controller data), these LEDs 821 to 824 indicate the number of thecontroller because the LED corresponding to the controller number isturned on.

For example, when the game machine 112 shown in FIG. 9 is designed toaccept four controllers at a time, each of four game players uses thefirst controller 10. The selective lighting of the LEDs 821 to 824allows each of the users to ascertain which is his/her own controller,out of the first to fourth ones. When the LED 821 of his/her controller10 is turned on, for instance, the player can understand that thecontroller is assigned as first controller.

Additionally, in the embodiment of FIG. 23, the front-end surface 52 ofthe housing 10 is formed as an inclined surface, not a surfaceorthogonal to an axis along the longitudinal direction of the housing12, unlike the preceding embodiments. Also, the imaging device 56 of theimaging information arithmetic unit is attached to the inclinedfront-end surface, and thus a central axis in the imaging range of theimaging information arithmetic unit, i.e. the imaging device 56 crossesobliquely the axis along the longitudinal direction of the housing 12.Accordingly, the housing 12 can be inclined on the whole by holding thehousing 12 at the holding portion 18 and facing the inclined front-endsurface 52, i.e. the imaging device 56 straight toward the screen 106 ofthe display 104. Consequently, according to this embodiment, the playermay feel less tiredness on his/her hand in operating the controller 10in his/her chair, for example.

That is, in the preceding embodiments, the front-end surface of thehousing 12 is orthogonal to the axis along the longitudinal direction.Accordingly, in facing the imaging device 56 attached thereto straighttoward the screen 106, it is necessary to hold the controller 10 in sucha manner that the upper surface 20 of the housing 12 is faced upward andthat the axis is in a horizontal state. Also, in that state, the imagingdevice 56 needs to be brought to a place within the screen 106. In thatcase, the wrist of the hand holding the holding portion 18 may be undertoo much tension. On the contrary, in the embodiment of FIG. 23, theimaging device 56 can be faced straight toward the screen 106 even whileholding the housing 12 by the wrist at a natural angle or in a naturalstate. This makes it possible to reduce the tiredness on the player'swrist without causing excessive stress on it.

Based on the same idea, as with an embodiment shown in FIG. 25, a frontend 12H of the housing 12 of the controller 10 is separated from anotherpart and is attached to a front end of the other part by means of ashaft 84. By doing this, since the front end 12H can be folded in such amanner as indicated by dotted lines if required, an imaging surface ofthe imaging device 56 of the imaging information arithmetic unit isdisplaced according to that, as shown in FIG. 25. Thus, as with theembodiments shown in FIG. 23 and FIG. 24, the effect of reducing wristtiredness can be expected. Besides, if this is not required for theembodiment of FIG. 25, the front end 12H may be in an upright state (astate indicated by solid lines in FIG. 25) according to the axis alongthe longitudinal direction.

FIG. 26 to FIG. 28 represents still another embodiment of the firstcontroller 10. The controller 10 of this embodiment is identical withthe controller of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 except forpoints described below. Duplicate descriptions are omitted below withassignment of the same reference numerals to the same or similarcomponents.

The controller 10 of this embodiment also includes the housing 12 of alongitudinal and cross rectangular shape or a shape close thereto thatis structured by the lower housing 14 and the upper housing 16. Also,the holding portion 18 of a size or thickness capable of being held byone hand is formed at the rear end of the housing 12. In addition, thedirection switch 26 is arranged on the upper surface 20 of the housing12, at the side (front end) opposite to the holding portion 18 in thelongitudinal direction C1 (FIG. 27). Besides, in this embodiment, thedirection switch 26 is a so-called cross key, not a combined switch suchas that of the FIG. 1 embodiment. Additionally, the A button 42 isprovided below (near the rear end) of the cross key, i.e. the directionswitch 26, at center of the housing 12 in a width direction. In thepreceding embodiments, the A button 42 is provided in the concaveportion 34 on the bottom surface 22 of the housing 12, and in thisembodiment, the A button 42 is changed so as to be arranged on the uppersurface 20 of the housing 12. This is intended to allow the A button 42to be operated by the thumb quickly and reliably because the A button 42is operated more frequently than the B button 28, as can be wellunderstood from FIG. 29 described later, for example. The directionswitch 26 and the A button 42 correspond to the first operating portionin this embodiment. Accordingly, the direction switch 26 and the Abutton 42 are a key top pushed in a direction orthogonal to the firstplane 20 and a push switch having contacts (not shown) operated by thekey top.

Moreover, in this embodiment, as understood well from FIG. 27(C)especially, a height H1 from the first plane 20 of the key top of thecross switch, i.e. the direction switch 26 is made higher as comparedwith a height H2 from the first plane 20 of the key top of the A button42. That is, the direction switch 26 is set to be higher than the Abutton 42. This aims to prevent the A button 42 from being pushed byaccident while the cross key, i.e. the direction switch 26 is operated.

The start switch 30 and the select switch 32 are arranged in onestraight line in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction(width direction), and also a menu switch 86 is provided between them.The menu switch 86 is used to select a menu item of a game to beexecuted by means of the controller 10 (for example, a one-person playmode, a match-up mode, etc.) and to switch the game mode instantly tothe menu to be provided immediately after the startup of the gamemachine or the like. The center of the menu switch 86 is aligned withthat of the A button 42 in the width direction of the housing 12, andthe start switch 30 and the select switch 32 are arranged at positionswith uniform spacing at left and right from the menu switch 86 (i.e. theA button 42).

With such a button layout as mentioned above, in manipulating thecontroller 10 with the right hand, for example, the player can operatethe select switch 32 quickly just by sliding the thumb placed on the Abutton 42 without having to bending the thumb. Additionally, in the caseof operation with the left hand, the start switch 30 is a switchsuitable for a quick operation in the same manner. Accordingly, it ispossible to perform a quick operation regardless of whether the user isright-handed or left-handed, by making a change to the assignments ofthe select switch 32 and the start switch 30 through the use of asoftware program or the like.

Besides, the menu switch 86 and the power switch 24 are provided in sucha manner as to be caved in or buried in holes formed on the uppersurface 20 of the housing 12 so that they are invisible from a side viewas shown in FIG. 27 (C). These switches 24 and 86 are caved because,although they may be operated only on specific occasions such as thetime of starting the game, operating these switches by accident duringthe game would cause some inconvenience such as data loss, and thusthese switches are designed to be capable of being intentionallyoperated at the game start but incapable of being unconsciously operatedduring the game.

Furthermore, in the controller 10 of this embodiment, the LEDs 821 to824 for indicating the controller numbers are provided as with thecontroller of FIG. 23. However, the LEDs 821 to 824 of FIG. 23embodiment are provided at one end (front end) of the housing 12,whereas those of this embodiment are arranged at the other end (rearend) of the housing 12.

The concave portion 34 is formed on the lower surface 22 of the housing,at a position approximately corresponding to the position of the abovementioned direction switch 26, on the side opposite to the holdingportion 18 in the longitudinal direction. In the preceding embodiments,the concave portion 34 has the valley 36 with a plane parallel to thefirst plane 20, and in this embodiment, the concave portion 34 has novalley and includes the first inclined surface 38 and the secondinclined part 40 that have gentle inclination. Also, the B button 28 isprovided on the first inclined surface 38 extending in the direction ofthe holding portion 18. In addition, the B button 28 is provided at aposition corresponding to the direction switch 26 and the A button 42forming the first operating portion. Besides, the corresponding positiondenotes a position where the B button 28 is arranged close to thedirection switch 26 and the A button 42 when viewed through the uppersurface of the housing 12.

Besides, the A button is arranged on the lower surface of the housing inthe preceding embodiments, whereas the A button 42 of this embodiment isarranged at a position easier to press as compared with the centerswitch of the preceding embodiments. Thus, this button is assumed to bethe frequently-used A button and the switch on the lower surface 22 ofthe housing is assumed to be the B button, which makes button operationsto be easier.

Additionally, in this embodiment, the B button 28 corresponds to thesecond operating portion. The B button 28 therefore has a key top to bepushed in a direction perpendicular to the inclined surface 38 butnon-perpendicular to the first plane 20, and a contact (not shown)turned on or off by the key top.

Moreover, in this embodiment, an angle of inclination of the secondinclined surface 40 extending toward the front end 52 of the housing 12,with respect to the first plane 20 is set as to be smaller than an angleof inclination of the first inclined surface 38 with respect to thefirst plane 20, as can be well understood from FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 (C).That is, the second inclined surface 40 has gentle inclination ascompared with the first inclined surface 38. In this manner, by makingthe second inclined surface 40 more gentle in inclination than the firstinclined surface 38, there are such advantages that it is easier to holdthe controller with both hands as shown in FIG. 32 described later andit is possible to take the index finger properly off the B button 28because the finger can be sufficiently moved in the direction of thetakeoff.

Furthermore, as can be understood from FIG. 28, because of a layout ofthe start switch 30, the menu switch 86 and the select switch 32arranged in one horizontal straight line, in this embodiment, thewireless module 70 is arranged on the right side of the housing 12 inthe width direction. Also, the power switch 24 is provided on the leftside of the housing 12 of the substrate 64 in the width direction, incontrast to the preceding embodiments, and the antenna pattern 72 isarranged at the front end on the right side of the substrate 64 in thewidth direction. As stated above, by arranging the antenna pattern 72 atthe front end on the right side of the housing 12 in the widthdirection, there is such an advantage that, even in the case of holdingwith both hands as shown in FIG. 32, the emission of weak radio wavesfrom the antenna 72 is not affected by the hands holding the housing 12,that is, the controller 10. That is, the antenna pattern 72 is arrangedon the side opposite to the hands holding the controller 10, in thewidth direction of the housing 12.

Besides, in the embodiment of FIG. 26 to FIG. 28, the switch provided inthe concave portion 34 on the lower surface of the housing 12 is the Bbutton 28. Alternatively, the B button 28 may be replaced with anoperating means having the functions of the Z button. In addition, the Zbutton is used as a trigger switch in a shooting game, for example, andalso operated on occasions when a non-player object is to be targeted bya player object (a so-called Z-targeting feature), etc.

FIG. 29 and FIG. 30 show the state that the controller 10 suchstructured as stated above is held by the game player's hand. Referringto these drawings, the palm 62P and the balls of middle finger 62 c,ring finger 62 d and small finger 62 e of the player's right hand 62hold the holding portion 18 of the housing 12 in such a manner as towrap the holding portion 18 lightly. In the state, the thumb 62 a of thehand 62 is positioned on the direction switch 26, and the index finger62 b is positioned in the concave portion 34 of the lower housing 14.Specifically, the direction switch 26 is arranged at a position reachedby the thumb 62 a of the hand 62 holding the housing 12, that is, at aposition capable of being operated by the thumb 62 a. The B button 28 isarranged at a position reached by the index finger 62 b of the hand 62holding the housing 12, that is, at a position capable of being operatedby the index finger 62 b. Accordingly, the player can operate thedirection switch 26 by the thumb 62 a and operate the B button 28 by theindex finger 62 b while holding the housing 12 by the hand 62. Morespecifically, the index finger 62 b of the hand 62 is positioned in sucha manner as to make contact with the surface of the second inclinedsurface 40 having gentle inclination in the front-end direction of theabove stated concave portion 34 formed in the lower housing 14. Bybending the index finger 62 b toward him/her (rightward in FIG. 29) inthat state, the user can push the key top of the B button 28 by the ballof the index finger 62 b in a direction perpendicular to the near-sideinclined surface 38 of the concave portion 34. Additionally, in the caseof this embodiment, the A button 42 is to be operated by the thumb 62 aof the one hand 62 as with the direction switch 26, as can be seen wellfrom FIG. 29 in particular. That is, in this embodiment, the directionswitch 26 is operated by extending the thumb 62 a and the A button 42 isoperated by bending the thumb 62 a. As a consequence, both the directionswitch 26 and the A button 42 are operated by the thumb 62 a. Thus, thethumb 62 a may also be placed in an operation-waiting state (rest state)on the A button 42, not on the direction switch 26.

FIG. 29 shows a state that the B button (or the Z button) 28 is pushedby the index finger 62 b. When it is not required to push the B button28, the index finger 62 b (or the middle finger 62 c) may be taken offthe B button 28. More specifically, by placing the index finger 62 b (orthe middle finger 62 c) on the second inclined surface 40 of the concaveportion 34, it is possible to make the index finger 62 b (the middlefinger 62 c) stable in the state of being separated from the B button28. Thus, there is no need for changing the state of holding the housing12 (passing the housing 12 from one hand to the other) depending onwhether or not to push the B button (or Z button) 28.

As described above, the controller 10 of this embodiment makes it easyto operate the first operating portion (the direction switch 26 and theA button 42 in the embodiment) and the second operating portion (the Abutton 42 in the embodiment) while holding the controller 10 by onehand. That is, in the controller 10 of this embodiment, it is possibleto operate the individual operating portions in a stable manner whileholding the controller 10 by one hand, which brings about a highlyfavorable effect of allowing the other hand to be used for playing agame or for another purpose, and which also makes it possible to performoperations in a state of holding by both hands. FIG. 32 shows the stateof holding by both hands. Additionally, in this embodiment, the A button42 is arranged at a place on the holding portion in vicinity of thedirection switch 26. Moreover, the B button 28 is arranged at the backof the area in which the direction switch 26 and the A button 42 arearranged (in other words, slightly rearward of the immediate back of thedirection switch 26), which makes it easy to operate the A button 42 andthe B button by one hand in a stable manner. Furthermore, as statedabove, since the direction switch 26 is in a higher position than the Abutton 42, it is possible to make the A button hard to press by mistake.

In the case of holding by both hands, as shown in FIG. 32, the front endof the housing 12 is held by the left hand 63, and the rear end of thehousing 12 is held by the right hand 62. At that time, with commonalitybetween the right hand and the left hand, the controller 10, i.e. thehousing 12 is held in such a manner that the upper surface 20 (FIG. 27)is retained by the balls of the thumbs 62 a and 63 a and the bottomsurface 22 (FIG. 27) is supported by the sides of the index fingers 62 band 63 b. Accordingly, the direction switch 26 and the A button 42 areoperated by the ball of the thumb 63 a of the left hand 63, and the Bbutton 28 (FIG. 26 and FIG. 27) is operated by the tip of the indexfinger 63 b of the left hand. Also, the X button 44 and the Y button 46are operated by the thumb 62 a of the right hand 62.

However, in the case of holding by both hands, the manner in which thecontroller is held, and the hands and fingers to operate the individualoperating switches and operating buttons are not limited to the exampleof FIG. 32. Thus, for example, it is possible to operate the A button 42by reaching out the thumb 62 a of the right hand 62 or the like.Besides, holding in such a manner as shown in FIG. 32 would preventradio emission through the antenna 72 (FIG. 28) from being affected bythe holding hand.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated indetail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustrationand example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spiritand scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gaming device for use with an electronic deviceof the type that includes an input device configured to receive manualuser input, the electronic device having a control surface, the inputdevice being located on the control surface of the electronic device,the gaming device comprising: a support comprising left and right handportions, the support configured to detachably hold the electronicdevice such that the control surface of the electronic device is visiblewhile a user is holding the left and right hand portions of the gamingdevice; an interface that enables circuitry in the gaming device tocommunicate with circuitry in the electronic device; a first inputdevice disposed on the left hand portion and configured to receive firstmanual user input; and a second input device disposed on the right handportion and configured to receive second manual user input; wherein thesupport is configured such that when the support is detachably holdingthe electronic device, at least a portion of the control surface of theelectronic device is located and manually accessible between the firstand second input devices.
 2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein thefirst input device comprises a thumbstick.
 3. The gaming device of claim1, wherein the first input device comprises a cross key.
 4. The gamingdevice of claim 1 wherein the second input device comprises a thumbstick.
 5. The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the second input devicecomprises an array of push buttons.
 6. The gaming device of claim 1wherein at least one of the first and second input devices comprises atrigger button.
 7. The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the left andright hand portions are dimensioned and shaped to be grasped by left andright hands, respectively, so that a palm of the left hand is capable ofwrapping around and holding the left hand portion and a palm of theright hand is capable of wrapping around and holding the right handportion.
 8. The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the left and right handportions are connected.
 9. The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the leftand right hand portions comprise a unitary structure.
 10. The gamingdevice of claim 1, wherein the support is configured to detachably holdopposite sides of the electronic device.
 11. The gaming device of claim1, wherein the interface comprises an electrical connector that isconfigured to mate with a corresponding electrical connector of theelectronic device.
 12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the inputdevice located on the control surface of the electronic device comprisesa button.
 13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the input deviceprotrudes in at least in one direction from the left hand portion andthe right hand portion.
 14. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein thesupport is configured to surround at least a portion of a back surfaceof the electronic device and at least portions of two opposite sidesurfaces of the electronic device.
 15. The gaming device of claim 1wherein the gaming device is configured to control an electronic game.16. The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the gaming device is configuredcontrol a view point of a virtual camera in a game.
 17. The gamingdevice of claim 1 wherein the first input device comprises a crossswitch and a first thumbstick, and the second input device comprises anarray of push buttons and a second thumb stick, the first and secondinput devices being configured and spaced so that when a left hand ofthe user grasps the left hand portion and a right hand of the usergrasps the right hand portion, a thumb of the left hand is capable ofalternately operating the cross switch and the first thumbstick and athumb of the right hand is capable of alternately operating the array ofpush buttons and the second thumbstick.
 18. The gaming device of claim 1wherein the support defines a slot dimensioned and configured toslidably accept and retain a distal portion of the electronic device.19. The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the left hand portion isconfigured so that the electronic device control surface is flush with afirst surface of the left hand portion on which the first input deviceis disposed and/or with a second surface of the right hand portion onwhich the second input device is disposed.
 20. The gaming device ofclaim 1 wherein the support is configured to support a center of gravityof the electronic device.